Thulgrun and Tybekk work together and send Red back to the Plane of Fire, while the dwarf grabs Aqua just in time for Thragond's arrow and Sun Fire's spell to vanquish it! Thulgrun gets a wet gauntlet and spray on his face for his trouble!
Round 2
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik —
elementals —
Thulgrun —
Tybekk —
Brynn/Meg — GO, then persistent fire from this round
Theragond —
Round 3
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik — GO
elementals — TBD
Thulgrun — TBD
Tybekk — TBD, then persistent fire from last round
Brynn/Meg — TBD
Theragond — TBD
As the elementals dissipate, Lashweather continues his incantations, his pitch getting slightly higher as he goes, as three more winged creatures appear in the circle!
Red 1 flaps over and breathes flame on Sun Fire, Theragond, and Thulgrun!
Red 2, cackling, follows suit on Cilik and Tybekk!
And Aqua sends a cone of acid at Brynn, which does not douse her persistent fire!
Round 3
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik —
elementals —
Thulgrun — GO
Tybekk — GO, then persistent fire from last round
Brynn/Meg — GO, then persistent fire from last round
Theragond — GO
Round 4
Sun Fire Boom Boom — GO
Cilik — GO
elementals — TBD
Thulgrun — TBD
Tybekk — TBD
Brynn/Meg — TBD
Theragond — TBD
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”Crazzlefrats! Ahh didnae expect them tae invite the entire fire family tae the party!
Tybekk moves in to a double Dwarven flank position with Red 2 where he strikes the red one twice.
Tybekk nimbly dodges aside from the sudden fiery breath weapon but still contends with a lingering persistent fire problem.
”Get oot oot oot, yae pesky fire. Wid yae no leave me alone?!”
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"Whee!" exclaims Sun Fire Boom Boom as the burning gets worse.
The Pathfinders were burning
While for victory they were yearning
Hopefully it'll be one for the archives
And regarding our enemies lives
Their feelings should be concerning
Sun Fire Boom Boom then runs into the middle of everything hoping to give as many allies flanking as possible while singing again and shooting the acid one.
Thulgrun sends #1 back home, then lands a solid blow on #2, grabbing it and holding it in place so Tybekk's perfectly aimed stab makes that one vanish as well!
Meanwhile, Brynn strikes Aqua and the soon-to-be toasty goblin, despite is lackluster projection, follows suit! It is not enough to defeat the elemental, however!
Round 3
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik —
elementals —
Thulgrun —
Tybekk —
Brynn/Meg —
Theragond — GO, then persistent fire damage from this round
Round 4
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik — GO, then persistent fire damage from this round
elementals — TBD
Thulgrun — TBD
Tybekk — TBD, then persistent fire from last round
Brynn/Meg — TBD
Theragond — TBD
While Brynn's blow is not quite enough, Theragond finishes the job!
Lashweather continues to intone occult words, and as the party catches its collective breath, yet another group of winged elementals arrives to join the party!
Aqua moves over and lets a cone of acid wash over Thulgun and Theragond!
And Red sends flames over poor, already-roasted Sun Fire and Brynn!
It then flies over toward Lashweather!
Round 4
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik —
elementals —
Thulgrun — GO
Tybekk — GO, then persistent fire from last round
Brynn/Meg — GO
Theragond — GO, then persistent fire from last round
Round 5
Sun Fire Boom Boom — GO, then persistent fire from last round
Cilik — GO, then persistent fire damage from last round
elementals — TBD
Thulgrun — TBD
Tybekk — TBD
Brynn/Meg — TBD
Theragond — TBD
[/ooc]nope[/ooc]
Sun Fire continues to sing and Byrnn lands a solid blow just as Thulgrun covers her in water elemental sploosh! Meanwhile, Tybekk and Theragond send Red back to the Plane of Fire!
Lashweather has his eyes closed now, reciting from memory as Lumki looks on, aghast. As his voice raises louder, three move winged creatures pop in!
Brown moves over and vomits a cone of rocks over Theragond and Tybekk!
Red lets loose a cone of flame on Sun Fire!
It then flies over toward Lashweather!
And Aqua breathes a cone of acid onto Brynn!
And then it also heads toward the iruxi astrologer!
Round 5
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik —
elementals —
Thulgrun — GO
Tybekk — GO, then persistent fire from last round
Brynn/Meg — GO
Theragond — GO, then persistent fire from last round
Round 6
Sun Fire Boom Boom — GO, then persistent fire from last round
Cilik — GO, then persistent fire damage from last round
elementals — TBD
Thulgrun — TBD
Tybekk — TBD
Brynn/Meg — TBD
Theragond — TBD
Thulgrun dismisses Red rather harshly, then grabs Aqua for good measure, on which Tybekk lands a blow! Theragond's arrows are off-target, but Brynn likewise manages to send Brown packing, while Sun Fire sends a chunk of Brown's breath weapon at Aqua! It reels but does not disappear!
Round 5
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik —
elementals —
Thulgrun —
Tybekk —
Brynn/Meg —
Theragond —
Round 6
Sun Fire Boom Boom —
Cilik — GO, then persistent fire damage from last round
elementals — TBD
Thulgrun — TBD
Tybekk — TBD
Brynn/Meg — TBD
Theragond — TBD
Cilik's spell takes out Brown!
The party stands ready as Lashweather falls silent, his arms outstretched and his face contorted in a mix of agony and euphoria...
...and nothing else appears!
Slowly, Lashweather opens his eyes. I am attuned, he says simply.
Lumki seems to grasp what this means, however. He should have no trouble completing the rest of the ritual over the coming hours, she says excitedly, and he should be able to attend the council meeting and speak on your behalf! The iruxi scientist, who has already begun peering through his telescope again, lifts his head and gives a single nod. You see? Lumki says. He's on your side! She leads you back downstairs and ushers you out the tower door.
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”Aye, it all seems like such a daft endeavor. Watchin a bunch a lights way up in the night sky seems like such a waste a time, but then tae draw the ire of elementals tae boot? Ahh hope Bennary knows what she’s dae’in tae recruit that crackpot.”
”Hey Brynn, Bush Head, dae yae hae some good meat instead of those good berries? Berries seems mair like squirrel food tae me. Ahh want tae eat some real meat! Dae yae hae any meat that heals wounds?”
Upon returning to the embassy, Eras leaps to his feet. Well? How did things go with Lashweather? he asks, as Calisro, who appears to have nodded off, is more lethargic as she rises.
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"Eat your berry, Tybekk. It'll put hair on your chest."
"Ahh've got mae beard and that's plenty of hair fer me. Is that why yae eat the berries? Yae want mair hair on yer chest?"
"Well? How did things go with Lashweather?"
"Aye, we had tae fight a bunch o' elementals because he wanted tae look at the stars, but Ahh think we reached an understanding noo. Lumpy says he will be at the meeting, so Ahh guess that's as good as we're gonnae get."
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"Ahh've got mae beard and that's plenty of hair fer me. Is that why yae eat the berries? Yae want mair hair on yer chest?"
"We've all got to keep warm during the cold nights, right?" Brynn replies with a smirk.
When they return Brynn confirms what the dwarf says. "What's the next task? I assume we're not done yet?"
Well, Calisro says, refilling her cup, there was a group of iruxi who came around looking for victims -- I mean, participants -- in their dinosaur rodeo this evening, but we politely declined on your behalf.
Yes, Eras says. We thought a full day deserved a full night of rest for you. The council meeting will be at mid-morning tomorrow. We need you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!
Bushy-tailed? Calisro says, rolling her eyes this time. And I'm the one whose loose words are going to offend the iruxi.
The next day, Calisro and Eras lead your party and the rest of the Vidrian delegation to the Chamber of Stars, the meeting space of Ekkeshikaar's ruling council, where the possibility of a trade agreement will be discussed.
The heart of a sprawling and partially-submerged government building made of glass and stone, the Chamber of Stars is a large circular chamber and is one of the few parts of the building that extends up above the waterline, giving an only slightly-obscured view of the sky above through the midnight-blue-tinted glass dome that covers the room's ceiling.
A group of seven iruxi dressed in long blue-black robes trimmed with gold sit at raised pulpits along one side of the room. A long table has been set aside for a handful of representatives from the Vidrian delegation, and additional seating holds crowds of native iruxi, some eager to see the trade deal pass, others to see it halted, and the rest simply excited to watch events unfold. Already, a queue of Ekkeshikaar's citizens is forming behind a stone lectern set aside for citizens to speak their minds and ask questions on the proceedings.
Calisro, Eras, Mirian Raas, and Jekka each take a seat and motion for you to do the same. Eras leans over. You'll be among the delegation members answering questions and arguing our case before the council and the people of Ekkeshikaar. Be ready!
Before the negotiations begin, Calisro hands your group four vials, containing a total of two doses of moderate cognitive mutagen and two doses of moderate silvertongue mutagen. These may come in handy, she says with a grin. Use them amongst yourselves as you see fit.
As the council meeting begins, the first area of discussion focuses on the colonial history of Vidrian. How long will Vidrian remain free? asks one council member. Those who ruled there before may return to subjugate them again.
An iruxi audience member concurs. Can this Vidrian maintain its independence? she asks emphatically. Or will this trade agreement drag Ekkeshikaar into a war we neither want nor need?
Kesstraka, convinced by the Pathfinders to attend the meeting, offers her insights. The future, as we know, is always in motion. Decisions shape her like a piece of wood. Yet, to fear the future is no different than to fear what one might become, no? Choices are made along the path, and cannot be made before reaching the divergent road. The crowd murmurs approval.
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"Aye, b'fore Ahh was a Pathfinder, Ahh work in m' pa's shop makin watches. Ahh can say fer certain that this trade agreement willnae drag Ekkeshikaar intae war. In fact, it is usally lack of trade that causes unrest, especially if the locals cannae get their watches tae tell the time. Ahh think yae're worryin unnecessarily."
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”If you are referring to the Empire of Cheliax, I am sure that the devil worshippers have their hands full. Besides, to get here, they have to challenge the Eye, the Shackles, and everything else. Our society may not be an actual maritime nation, but we have many friends. And boats. All of the boats.
“But, really, it is hard to fight a war of conquest when you are dealing with civil unrest, a new state that seceded from you, and a new superpower in the world to the north threatening your allies and vassals by land.
“I’d be surprised if you even made the list ”
The council does not appear swayed by Tybekk's assurances, but Thulgrun's intricate knowledge is persuasive indeed.
The gathered iruxi agree that Thulgrun's information is compelling, but otherwise see no particular benefit from Brynn's words. Sun Fire, on the other hand, is quite convincing in his bravado.
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Realizing tha the's way out of his depth here, Theragond quaffs one of the mutagens and thinks on the whole situation. Finding his mind salubriated, he cogitates upon the discourse.
"Forsooth Kesstraka. Once one considers the opacity of temporal threads, if you'll forgive my mixed metaphors, the very notion of precognitive determination ceases to hold any utilitarian vim. If we accept the posited antecedent as true, then we are left only with the subsequent acceptance that decisions now must and only contain epistemological value."
He looks around, shocked at his own locution. "I agree. Don't fear the future."
The iruxi appear moved by Theragond's garrulousness.
With Cilik's input, the council decides that the concerns about Vidrian's colonial history can largely be put to rest.
The council next turns its focus on various omens seen in the stars. One iruxi audience member points out that the retrograde of Akiton suggests it is not an auspicious time to make new trade deals, a view echoed by a member of the council, Crassel. The Red Father is energy, the council member says haughtily, and its present place in the constellation of Kartek, the dishonorable Serpent, tells us all we need to know!
Lashweather, a stern look on his face, interjects. Crassel, I believe you are omitting Akiton's retrograde status, he says. Its backward motion thwarts Kartek's usual inclinations and turns them back on themselves. It is not a particularly auspicious time for such treaties, true enough; but neither does it portend doom for such endeavors.
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"Ach. Prophesy hasn't been the same since Aroden died over 100 years ago. Damned human deity got hisself all messed up in its workings, and it ain't been the same, since." says Thulgrun. "I've been around a little while, and I have seen folks give credence to prophesies, and I am not arguing that yours haven't been valid, but I would be a little careful at using prophesy as the primary determiner of your foreign policy.